Posted in CEO Updates

ADIA continues to represent members at a national level. Along with ongoing work with the TGA and the Parliamentary Friends of the Dental Industry group, ADIA also regularly meets with department staff and Ministerial Advisors. 

ADIA meets with Federal Ministers

Earlier this month ADIA Director of Policy & Education, Dr Sarah Raphael met with Federal Ministers at the 2024 Federal Labor Business Exchange in Sydney.

This event provides important opportunities for one-on-one meetings to discuss ADIA's major advocacy platforms with Ministers and attend keynote addresses from the Prime Minister, Hon. Anthony Albanese MP and Treasurer, Hon. Jim Chalmers. 

Discussions are aimed at maintaining important parliamentary relationships to ensure businesses in the dental sector can thrive and the oral health profession is supported to improve the oral health of our community.

During the forum, Dr Raphael met with the following Ministers:

Hon. Mark Butler MP (Minister for Health & Aged Care) on plans for oral health reform and the new oral health plan. Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) promotion to increase the awareness for eligible families was also discussed. 

Hon. Julie Collins MP (Minister for Small Business; Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) on pressures on small business with high freight costs and supply chain delays along with State payroll tax implications on dental service organisations.

Senator the Hon. Tim Ayres (Assistant Minister for a Future Made in Australia; Assistant Minister for Trade) on information for members about industry grants such as the Industry Growth Program and National Reconstruction Fund.

Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP (Minister for Social Services) on the much needed promotion of the CDBS to eligible families.

Hon. Emma McBride MP (Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention; Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health) on the current state of the oral health workforce in rural and regional Australia and the need for incentives to attract dental practitioners to these regions.
Hon. Dr Anne Aly MP (Minister for early Childhood Education; Minister for Youth) on strategies to partner with early childhood and youth education to promote the CDBS.

Senator the Hon. Anthony Chisholm (Assistant Minister for Education, Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) on strategies to partner with the Education Sector to promote the CDBS.

Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP (Assistant Minister for Immigration) on the promotion of the CDBS within his electorate of Kingsford Smith.

Dr Gordon Reid MP on the connections between oral health and general health and the promotion of the CDBS within his electorate of Robertson.

Hon. Anika Wells MP (Minister for Aged Care; Minister for Sport) on the need for aged care reforms to include oral healthcare for Older Australians.

If you would like any more information or have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to do so by email.

ADIA continues to collaborate with key stakeholders and advocate strongly on behalf of our members to maintain a business and regulatory environment that allows your businesses to grow and operate sustainably.

We also actively advocate for improvements in community oral health, especially for vulnerable groups who face barriers to access for oral health care including children from low socio-economic backgrounds and older Australians.

Here is a snapshot of some of our recent advocacy activities.

Payroll Tax

Recent changes to the interpretation of state and territory payroll tax law means that independent contractor dentists working under a service facility agreement may be deemed employees. This has led to a great deal of uncertainty around retrospective liability for practice operators, including some of our affiliate members.

This week, I met with political strategists from Anacta, a public affairs firm who are actively mounting a campaign to address this issue with state and territory Governments. I will keep you informed of developments in this area.

TGA

Changes to the regulation of exempt medical devices and exempt other therapeutic goods have been proposed by the TGA. These changes have the potential to increase regulatory red tape and costs for these types of products. We made a submission outlining the potential impact of this proposal on the costs of dental equipment, products and services. Read our submission here.

ADIA has also partnered with Medicines Australia on a joint letter signed by MTAA, Aus Biotech and other associations to the Hon Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Aged Care regarding TGA cost recovery from industry for infra-structure development. In other departments, the Government rightly supports this type of development as capital expenditure investment.

Parliamentary Friends of the Dental Industry

AIDA took dental technology to Parliament House this month! Showcasing how the latest innovative dental equipment can be used to break down barriers to access for oral health services especially in aged care and rural and remote settings. Amongst the 30 interested parliamentarians and advisors were The Speaker of the House, the Hon Milton Dick MP, Senator Wendy Askew, Ms Zali Steggall OAM MP, Dr Mike Freelander MP and Dr David Gillespie MP. All were amazed at the way the technology could be used to facilitate reforms in oral healthcare and several posted on their social media accounts. Initiatives like this build strong relationships with our parliamentary colleagues and open the door for continued dialogue on reform and to discuss any future issues that may arise. 

If you would like any more information or have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to do so by email.

Good afternoon,

I am pleased to share that the 2023 Dental and Health Services Report is now available to download. This report provides key statistics about Dental and Health Services in Australia, with data sourced from IBISWorld as well as the Dental Board of Australia and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority. 

Normally available for purchase for $49.50, the report is free of charge to ADIA member businesses. Login and download the report today for key insights about current trends and forecasts to help you make informed decisions about your business.

If you would like any more information or have any questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to do so by email.

ADIA provides evidence to Senate Select Inquiry into the Provision of and Access to Dental Services in Australia.

On Friday, 20 October Dr Sarah Raphael gave evidence on behalf of ADIA in the final hearing of the Senate Select Inquiry into Dental Services in Australia. She was joined by representatives from the Dental Board of Australia, Australian Dental Association and Australian Dental Prosthetists Association.

Sarah provided evidence on the need for national leadership in the sector in the form of a Chief Oral Health Officer, the need for federal support for priority population access to oral health services, and the various ways technology can reduce cost, tackle waiting lists, and improve clinical outcomes.

We will share the recommendations of the final report due to be released in late November via this update. We will continue to advocate for better access to oral health services for people in Australia through sensible, solution-focused strategies on behalf of our members.